In the past few years, Netflix has taken the world of internet by storm. Adding to its already huge popularity is the fact it offers its own original programming, most notably “Arrested Development” and “House of Cards”, which yourself truly follow religiously. Apart from producing smashing hits, and great shows, Netflix has also changed the way we view our favorite shows, or perhaps, it has adapted to the way we view TV.

What am I talking about? Well, I like binge-watching, and since I’m not the only one, Netflix decided to indulge us and began making entire seasons of their original shows available at all once. This way, anyone can watch as little or as much as they can, depending on their viewing habits and preferences.

But, as is the case with most good things, you have to pay up. Or do you? I mean, there is no way of getting Netflix for free, but what are some of its free or less expensive alternatives and are they any good? I’ve done some research, and this is what I came up with.

YouTube

OK, that one is a bit obvious, but I’m not talking about short films, music videos or any kind of video clip that is under 10 minutes. YouTube also lets you watch full-length movies and TV shows, via dedicated channels, for free. Not only is the content full-length, but it’s also displayed in HD, for your viewing pleasure.

Amazon Prime

Although it can’t match the volume and quality of content Netflix provides you with, Amazon Prime is slowly, but surely, creeping up behind it. But, even though it’s not on the same level as Netflix, and it’s not free, it makes sense if you look at it as part of the package, which includes Amazon free shipping, and a bunch of free e-books rentals as a bonus. You get good value for money, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Hulu Plus

The fact that they are quite similar makes Hulu Plus, Netflix’s natural rival, but I wouldn’t be in too much of a rush to qualify it as such. Yes, there are some similarities, like the fact that you have to pay for both of them. And that’s pretty much it. One area where Netflix has the upper hand is that it doesn’t make you watch ads, unlike Hulu Plus. Also, while Netflix content library consists of movies and older TV shows, as well as their original programming, Hulu Plus focuses solely on TV shows, offering a good mix of tried and true older TV shows and brand new ones, as well.

Apart from these, there are other alternatives to Netflix, like iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Crackle, CinemaNow, Epix, and many others, but I consider these three to be the only true alternatives, based on the quality and volume of content, as well as price. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.